Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-07-26

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Fresh round of Greek-Turkish talks on specific topics begins today

[02] Restoration of democracy commemorated aat annual Presidential Mansion gathering

[03] Simitis-Anastasios meeting

[04] PM taps central bank's Thomopoulos to head 2004 organising committee

[05] Army private decorated for role in ending hostage incident

[06] Initial efforts fail to raise sunken tourist vessel off Zakynthos

[07] Tsohatzopoulos: No let up in deterrence capability foreseen

[08] Blast from gas leak kills one, injures 16 in Volos

[09] US envoy for Cyprus Miller in Athens today

[10] Tsohatzopoulos dismisses Moslem MPs' letter, Muftis praise 25 years of Greek democracy

[11] Traffic accidents again mar weekend getaway

[01] Fresh round of Greek-Turkish talks on specific topics begins today

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

The talks, to be conducted by senior foreign ministry officials, will cover issues related to tourism, the environment, trade, culture, crime and illegal immigration as well as terrorism.

An agreement to launch a dialogue on the specific subjects was made in New York on June 30 by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem.

Arriving in Ankara yesterday were Ambassadors Konstantinos Gerokostopoulos and Anastasios Skopelitis, heading a delegation from the foreign ministry.

Also in the delegation are Ambassadors Alexandros Miliaresis and Konstantinos Fotilas, and Vassilios Patronis of the ministry's legal department.

The talks in Ankara are likely to span cultural matters, protection of the environment and trade cooperation.

On July 29-30, the dialogue will shift to Athens, and is expected to cover cooperation in combatting organised crime, illegal immigration, drugs and terrorism. Tourism is also on the agenda.

The Turkish delegation is to be led by Ambassador Farouk Logoglu.

Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Cem are expected to meet in Sarajevo on Friday on the sidelines of a Balkan stability pact summit, while they are likely to make a preliminary review of the talks between the two countries.

The ministers are due for another meeting, this time on the sidelines of a United Nations general assembly meeting in New York, due in mid-September.

Athens News Agency

[02] Restoration of democracy commemorated aat annual Presidential Mansion gathering

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

In a statement, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos stressed that democratic institutions have functioned effectively over the past 25 years, Greece regained its position on the international scene and has experienced economic development and political stability, while the country's accession to the European Union provided it with many new opportunities.

Referring to the issue of Cyprus, he expressed a hope that existing circumstances will allow for a final solution to the Cyprus problem, which will also result in a substantive improvement in stability and security in the region.

Mr. Stephanopoulos also referred to the major powers which, as he noted, should display the same sensitivity and determination that they have shown on other occasions, more so because no one can disregard the "just causes and rights of the people of Cyprus."

The Greek president appeared at the reception at 8:30 p.m. and greeted Prime Minister Costas Simitis, party leaders, the Parliament president and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos. Communsit Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga did not attend the reception.

Both the president and premier walked in the gardens of the Presidential Mansion and shook hands and talked with guests. They then talked for about half an hour with other party leaders.

On his part, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis referred to what he called the most recent spate of Turkish provocativeness and reiterated the need for a "foreign policy council" to be established.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos expressed a hope that political and social struggles will provide the opportunity for social justice and reforms so as not to "allow political incredulity to grow and for prot ection for national strategy to enable Greece to have a better position in the 21st century."

Political Spring (Pol.An) leader Antonis Samaras referred exclusively to the issue of a controversial announcement by the three Moslem deputies of the Greek Parliament, saying he had predicted such developments.

ND honorary president and former premier Constantine Mitsotakis also attended.

On his part, Mr. Simitis noted:

"Democracy is not in danger today from colonels, foreign designs and conspiracies. What is necessary is for us to give substance to democracy. And what we must look out for is the disdain of politics, indifference for public affairs and the lack of soci al responsibility.

"What is necessary to build a democracy which will be more substantive and which will cover all aspects of life is for all of us to mobilise. This is the task of the people."

In a similar statement, Mr. Karamanlis said:

"We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Greek Democracy today. And I would like to say on the occasion that we are all, regardless of parties and political affiliations, very proud of our democracy, the free and open society in which we are living with absolute respect for human rights and the rights of every citizen without exception.

"Unfortunately, we are again seeing at this moment an escalation of provocations by the prime minister responsible for the invasion of Cyprus (Bulent Ecevit) and from his Third World regime, who are again behaving as international troublemakers.

"We ignore bravado and provocations of such a kind and we return them to where they came from.

"My reply is unity, consensus and determination..."

Athens News Agency

[03] Simitis-Anastasios meeting

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

No statements were made after-wards. Archbishop Anastasios was in Athens on a private visit and also had talks with Deputy FM for Expatriate Affairs Grigoris Niotis. During his talks, Anastasios expressed his views on the various problems faced by the ethnic Greeek minority in Albania.

Athens News Agency

[04] PM taps central bank's Thomopoulos to head 2004 organising committee

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

Assuming the post of president of Athens 2004 SA is Panayiotis Thomopoulos, deputy governor of Greece's Central Bank, the prime minister's press office announced in a statement.

Mr. Thomopoulos, 62, became the Bank of Greece's deputy governor in November 1994 and often represented Greece's central bank in European Central Bank meetings. He speaks English, French and Spanish.

Mr. Thomopoulos replaces Stratis Stratigis, who resigned on July 6, citing personal reasons.

The prime minister also appointed Niki Tzavela as the vice-president of Athens 2004. She is already a member of the organising committee's board.

It was also announced that the statutes of the company will have to be amended to incorporate the newly created position, the statement read.

Ms Tzavela, a former New Democracy deputy, resigned as vice president of the Kokkalis Foundation in order to take up her new position.

In the past, she served as vice president of the Latsis Foundation. Ms Tzavela currently sits on the board of Harvard Kennedy School.

Synaspismos criticism : Meanwhile, the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) criticised Mr. Simitis over the new appointments.

"The prime minister's decision will perpetuate accumulated delays, a lack of transparency, stagnation and the involvement of major vested interests in preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games," Synaspismos noted in a statement.

Athens News Agency

[05] Army private decorated for role in ending hostage incident

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

The medal, "for an act of outstanding courage", was bestowed by the Greek state for the first time in peacetime.

The hijacking had occurred on a bus belonging to the KTEL Kilkis service, while the final phase of the hijacking occurred in the community of Palaistra, Florina prefecture. Five other hostages on the bus also escaped unscathed after police special forces moved in and shot the hijacker.

A ceremony was held at the headquarters of the 33rd Mechanised Division in the northern town of Polykastro where the soldier is serving.

The decision by the President of the Republic read at the ceremony stated, among others, that with his action "he displayed, bravery, courage and calmness and in this way saved human lives."

Ptv. Kokalis will be discharged from the army in the next few days and said that he plans to sit examinations to join the Greek Police (EL.AS) force.

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos presented the young conscript with the medal.

Athens News Agency

[06] Initial efforts fail to raise sunken tourist vessel off Zakynthos

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

One man drowned in the accident, while a woman and two children are missing and presumed dead. The bodies of the three are believed to be in the sunken vessel. According to reports, one of the cables that divers attached to the sunken vessel broke at ar ound midnight on Saturday, endangering the life of a diver. However, the head of the dive crew told the prosecutor and relatives of the three missing persons that he will remain in the region and continue efforts to raise the vessel.

Athens News Agency

[07] Tsohatzopoulos: No let up in deterrence capability foreseen

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was replying to a reporter's question on whether the government's large-scale arms programme ran contrary to a dialogue with Ankara, set to begin today.

"When you want peace, you have to make ready for war," he stressed, adding that military deterrence acted as a counter-balance in negotiations of any kind.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis to set the agenda for a session on the government's arms programme - especially the navy - also scheduled for today.

Athens News Agency

[08] Blast from gas leak kills one, injures 16 in Volos

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

The fire brigade has launched a preliminary enquiry into the late Friday night explosion that wrecked the store and damaged nearby apartments, stores and several vehicles.

Killed in the blast was Dimitris Kavaliotis, 25, a marine. Six people underwent surgery at a Volos hospital and the remaining 10 casualties received first aid before being sent home.

Athens News Agency

[09] US envoy for Cyprus Miller in Athens today

NICOSIA, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

The US envoy is also expected to introduce his successor to the Greek FM.

Mr. Miller is expected to meet Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides this Friday on the sidelines of the international conference on the reconstruction of the Balkans in Sarajevo, where he has been appointed ambassador.

According to press reports, the United States and Britain are continuing backstage efforts to enable talks to be held in the autumn.

Britain envoy Sir David Hannay is also expected to visit Athens in early September.

Meanwhile, new US ambassador to Cyprus Donald Bandler is expected on the island republic in mid-August, while the new envoy for Cyprus, who succeeded Mr. Miller, will assume his duties in September.

Nicosia has made it clear that it will reply in kind if Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash sets conditions before the negotiations concerning any upgrading of his position.

A government official said to this effect that "we are going to discuss a solution in the framework of UN resolutions and not the legalisation and consolidation of a non-solution."

Athens News Agency

[10] Tsohatzopoulos dismisses Moslem MPs' letter, Muftis praise 25 years of Greek democracy

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

"Such minorities do not exist, however much anyone wants to create them," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos told reporters.

"Under the (1923) Treaty of Lausanne, there is only a Moslem minority in our country, which lives under the best conditions," he added.

The minister pointed out that an ethnic Greek minority in Istanbul has practically disappeared from the more than 250,000 members it had before World War II.

Muftis : In a related development, several Moslem officials sent an open letter to the president of the republic and political leaders to mark the restoration of democracy in Greece 25 years ago.

The letter was signed by the three muftis (quasi-religious leaders) in Thrace and the presidents and members of Moslem property management committees in Xanthi, Komotini and Didymotiho.

The letter was addressed to President Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and the heads of political parties.

In the letter, the Thrace-area Moslem officials welcomed the freedom of speech and respect for human rights that exist in Greece, especially at a time when neighbouring countries are "undergoing war, repression and autocratic regimes."

They also welcomed the country's entry into Europe and the fact that it was able to offer third countries humanitarian and development aid.

"We would like to take this opportunity to underline that the minority in Greece enjoys all the rights and freedoms envisaged in the spirit and letter of international conventions that Greece has signed. The country has respected its signature, showing sensitivity and worthiness," the letter stated.

Criticism : Meanwhile, PASOK MP and former public order minister Stelios Papathemelis harshly criticised the statement by the three Moslem MPs, calling it a "raw provocation".

In an announcement on Saturday, the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) also said it opposed the action by the three deputies for the recognition of the so-called "Turkish" and "Macedonian" minorities.

Synaspismos said "it is opposed to any action whose purpose is the revision of existing international treaties" and "is steadfastly opposed to any disputing of minority rights."

Referring to the same issue, former New Democracy party defence minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis said the "case of alleged statements by the three Moslem deputies" was "very strange."

Athens News Agency

[11] Traffic accidents again mar weekend getaway

Athens, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

Cypriot student Spyros Andrea Louizou was being treated in the intensive care unit at the Asklipieio Hospital in Voula at presstime.

The incidents occurred when about 50 youths hurled firebombs and stones at police guarding the concert site, reports state.

In an unrelated incident, a car ran over and killed a 21-year-old woman on the same seaside Poseidonos Avenue - in front of the Athens airport's west terminal - earlier that evening. According to reports, the driver sped away and left the woman helpless .

Ioanna Athanasopoulou was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Authorities are still trying to detect the hit-and-run driver and announced that a piece of the car's front section was found, which identifies it as a 1999 Audi model.

Thirteen people were killed and 279 injured in 196 traffic accidents throughout Greece between Friday and 10:30 a.m. yesterday.

Athens News Agency

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article